Church

In an effort to be constantly trying to improve and fulfilling my "bucket list" item of reading the entire Bible before I am 30, Scott & I went to church today. It was actually really good, I am a big fan and even more interesting, Scott liked it (or at least didn't dislike it) even though it was a protestant church and he grew up in the Catholic Church and they are VERY different. I thought he might think it was cult-ish but he didn't. I personally get nothing out of repetition and thinking that I need someone else to go to God for me but I don't necessarily think Catholicism is wrong. It's just different and not for me. That's ok because we are not all cookie cutter people. We all need something different.

The service was engaging and even had skits and videos and the pastor spoke like a normal human being. They even put their sermons online - very cool if you don't happen to make it to either the 9a or 10:45a. Another cool thing is that they have a 10:45a service so you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn. 

I don't think going to church necessarily makes you a better person and going certainly does not mean you are a Christian or that you are instantly going to heaven but it's a step in the right direction to trying to be the person you were created to be and being surrounded by others who actively want the same. It certainly can't hurt you. Plus going might help me in my goal of trying to forgive people, the theme for the month.

Finally, there are 3500 types of Christians. There is only one true definition of a Christian and it is that you believe Jesus died for you and that He is God. That is it. There are 3500 different interpretations of a book that I am still highly suspicious about given the history of how it was made/translated. So who's to say which one of the 3500 is right? Moreover, does it really matter? Does it matter if one type dances and sings to music and one has someone sing to you? Or any of the other trivial matters they fight over? No one is going to hell over listening/singing to music or any of the other 3500 differentiations. No church is perfect. What are the odds that even one of those 3500 are the "right" one that 100% gives God's message? Probably somewhere near 0%. So what is the point in arguing which is right or wrong? I think you just need to find a church where there are people there who you connect with that help you to connect with God. And hopefully one that you get something out of. I don't know about you but I don't like being bored. There are times when it's necessary but not 100% of the time. If all I did was lecture to my students for 65 minutes, I would lose them around 10 minutes in if not sooner. The same thing goes with hearing messages from a pastor. I want someone who is engaging and filled with passion for the message he/she prepared for the week. This is why I don't think religion is necessarily the word anyone should be striving for but instead spirituality is.

I also finished the book of Jonah finally. I took quite the hiatus but am back and still ahead of schedule. My goal is to read the entire New Testament and not listen to it using audible since the material is much more meaningful. I don't know if that will happen but that is the goal.